Runner for draft-tongues.



0. JENNINGS., RUNNER FOR DRAFT TONGUES. APPLICATION FILED APILS, 1911.

Patented June 27, 1911.

344mm; Oren Jennings UNIT STA

onrron.

OBEN JENNINGS, OF BOONE, IOWA.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 27, 1911 Application filed April 3, 1911.

Serial No. 618,748.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, OREN JENNINGS, a citizen of the United States, residin at Boone, in the county of Boone and btate of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Runners for Draft- Tongues; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

his invention relates to runners for draft tongues, for harrows, Cultivators, wagons, and all classes of animal-drawn Vehicles and implements with which a draft tongue may be used.

The primary object of the invention is to provide means for attachment to a draft tongue, whereby, when attached to the vehicle, the tongue will be properly supported to keep its forward end raised off the ground.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support for tongues of the character described in the form of a runner which will not only support the tongue but will readily pass over the ground after the manner of a sleigh runner.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved runner for the purpose shock or jars in passing over rough surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a runner of this character with an improved swiveling connection to the draft tongue.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the improved construction of supporting runner for draft tongues hereinafter fully described and afterward specifically claimed.

I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of my improved runner support attached to a draft tongue, the ends of the tongue being brokenaway. Fig. 2 represents a vertical sectional view through a portion of the tongue, the runner and the attaching mechanism. Fig. 3 represents a top plan view of the swivel block, sleeve and bolt in operative position. Fig. 4: represents a detail perspective view of the swivel sleeve, and Fig. 5 represents a detail perspective view of a split spring washer used on the swivel bolt.

Like reference characters mark the same parts in all of the figures of the drawing.

Referring specifically to the drawings: 10 indicates a portion of a draft tongue of any ordinary construction and material adapted to be attached to any ordinary vehicle or implement.

11 indicates my improved supporting runner for a draft tongue, which may be varied somewhat in form, but in this instance is shown as comprising a horizontal upper end 12 and a horizontal lower end 13, connected by a curved main body 14, the rear end of the flat horizontal upper end 12 being turned under to form a parallel flange 15 a short distance below the portion 12 and the rear end of the fiat horizontal bottom or base portion 13 being turned up into the form shown at 16, or any other desired form to round its rear end.

lVelded or otherwise attached to the upper surface of the base 13 of the runner is an angular bracket 17 comprising an upright 18 through which projects the hooked end 19 of a rod 20, which, at its upper end, passes through the flange 15 and is provided above and below said flange with nuts 21 upon its threaded upper end. The rod 20 'is adjustable in length by means of a turnbuckle 22. specified, which will be resilient to prevent At 23 is indicated a swivel block which is shown as of rectangular form, although this is not essential. This block is recessed in its upper surface around a central circular opening to form an annular flange 24;, and in said recess and resting upon said flange is an annular head flange 25 of a sleeve 26 which passes through the central opening referred to. The head flange 25 is provided with a rectangular countersunk recess 27 concentric with a central bore 28, in which is placed, point downward, a bolt 29 provided with a rectangular beveled head 30. seated in the rectangular countersink 27, the projecting threaded lower end of the bolt 29 passing through an opening in the upper horizontal portion 12 of the runner 11 and being provided, below said portion 12, with a split spring washer 31 adapted to rest against the under surface of the run ner and adjustably held in contact therewith by means of a nut 32.

Then the parts are in position as hereinbefore described, with the sleeve 26 seated in the circular recess in the block 23 and resting upon the annular flange 24, the upper surface of the head flange 25 will be flush with the upper surface of the swivel block 23, as well as the upper surface of the head 30 of the bolt 29, all as shown in plan view in Fig. 3.

Inasmuch as the head flange 25 and sleeve 26 are to be rotatable in the recess in the top of the swivel block 23 and upon the annular flange 24, means must be provided for lubricating their contacting surfaces, for which purpose I have formed a lubricating groove 33 in the wall of the recess in. the swivel block 23, as shown in Fig. 3.

In order to preserve the relative positions of the sleeve with its head flange, the bolt 29 and its head 30 and the upper surface of the swivel block 23, and to form a smooth surface for contact with the upper surface of the sleeve and bolt when rotated in the head block, I provide a cover plate 34 corresponding in outline with the swivel block and smoothly finished to rest upon the top thereof. This cover plate 34 and the swivel block 23 are each provided with registering bolt holes, and to attach the runner to the tongue 10, the parts in the relative positions named, are secured upon the underside of the tongue by bolts 36 passing upward through said registering bolt holes and upon the outside of the tongue, and through bolt holes in the projecting ends of clips 37 transversely placed upon the upper surface of the tongue and projecting beyond the sides thereof, the projecting upper ends of the bolts above the clips being provided with suitable nuts 38. By turning up these nuts 38 tightly, the swivel block 23 and cover plate 34 are rigidly secured to the tongue, an opening 39 in the cover plate registering with the groove 33 in the wall of the recess in the swivel block, whereby lubricating fluid may be introduced while the parts are rigidly secured together in operative position. l/Vhen in the position referred to, the sleeve 26, with its annular head flange 25, the bolt 29 and the runner 11, will be rotatable on the axis of the bolt as a center,

the runner will adjust its angular position with relation to the tongue, especially in turning and in avoiding obstructions by passing to the side thereof.

By means of the construction described, it will be observed that the runner may be attached to any ordinary tongue without in any way altering or preparing the tongue for its reception, it being unnecessary to bore holes or in any. wise weaken or mutilate the tongue.

lower ends of the runner may be brought closer together, which will tend to stiffen it and thus make it applicable for the support of a tongue of greater weight, while the turning of the turn-buckle in the opposite direction will permitthe upper and lower portion of the runner to separate, thus decreasing its rigidity and adapting it to support a tongue of less weight. A certain amount of adjustment of variation inheight of the upper and lower parts of the runner may be secured by adjusting the nuts 21 upon the upper threaded end of the rod 20. The adjustment of the length of the rod 20, without reference to the increase or decrease of the rigidity of the runner, serves also to raise or lower the upper horizontal portion 12 of the runner when it is desired to support the tongue in a higher or lower position.

The advantages by the use of a runner constructed and secured to a tongue in the manner described, will be obvious, and while I have specifically set forth the exact construction and relative positions of the various parts, I desire it to be understood that changes and variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Among the many advantages of my invention, the following may be noted: By employing a runner of the character set forth it will move easily over the ground and will not gather trash and clog up with mud as a wheel would, especially in wet weather; my device occupies but little space and may be used on a very short tongue disk cultivator or other implement, the swinging movement of the runner requiring very little space in which to act; and finally, it will be noted that the device is light inweight and simple in construction, so that it may be produced at a comparatively small cost and will be strong and durable, and highly effective for the purpose intended.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is: whereby whenever necessary or desirable,

to be rigidly secured to a tongue, of a isleeve swiveled in said block, a runner; com prising top and bottom flat portions-and iconnecting curved. portions, a bolt rigidly secured in the sleeve and passing through the flat upper portion of the runner, and

1. The combination with a block adapted means for adjusting the upper and lower portions of the runner toward and from each other.

2. The combination witha block adapted -to be rigidly secured to a tongue, of, a sleeve swiveled in said block, a runner comprising top and bottom flat portions and connecting curved portions, a bolt rigidly secured in the sleeve and passing through the fiat upper portion ofthe runner, means for adjusting the upper and lower portions of the run.

ner toward and from each other comprising a rod connecting said top and bottom portions, and a turn-buckle for lengthening and shortening said rod.

3. The combination with a block adapted to be rigidly secured to a tongue, of a sleeve swiveled in said block, a-runner comprising top and bottom flat portions and connecting curved portions, a bolt rigidly secured in the sleeve and passing through the flat upper portion of the runner, means for adjusting the upper and lower portions of the runner toward and from each other, comprising an inturned flange on the top portion of the runner, a vertical flange secured upon the upper surface of the bottom portion of the runner, a rod engaging in an opening in said vertical flange and having its upper end passing through an opening in the inturned flange, nuts on the rod above and below the inturned flange, and a turn-buckle for lengthening and shortening the rod.

4. The combination with a block provided with an annular recess surrounding a central circular opening in its upper surface, of a sleeve seated in said circular opening provided with an annular head flange seated in said recess, and a rectangular countersunk recess concentric with its central bore, a bolt passed downwardly through the central bore of the sleeve and provided with a rectangular undercut head to fit in said rectangular countersunk recess, a runner upon which the lower end of the sleeve rests, having an opening registering with the central bore of the sleeve through which opening the bolt is passed, a split spring washer on the bolt below the runner and a nut on the bolt below the washer.

5. The combination with a swiveled block provided with a central opening and an annular recess in its upper surface around said opening, of a sleeve seated in the central opening provided with an annular head flange seated in said recess and with a central opening terminating at its upper end in a rectangular countersunk recess, a bolt passing downward through the central bore of the sleeve having a rectangular head seated in the rectangular countersunk recess of the sleeve, its threaded end projecting beyond the lower end of the sleeve for attachment to a runner, and the upper surface of the swiveled block, the head flange of the sleeve and bolt being flush with each other, a cover plate corresponding in outline with the swivel block resting upon said flush surfaces, transverse clips adapted to rest on the top of a draft tongue and to project beyond the sides thereof and bolts passing through the swivel block, cover plate and clips.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

OREN JENNINGS. Witnesses O. B. HOPKINS, L. O. HILTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

